The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-10-26
The Advertiser.
WHITE SLAVERY IN COLONIAL TIMES

many persons who consider themselves
familiar with the history of this country
GRO not aware that in tho last century
wnlte men, women and children wero
held IN bondage; that the colonial lawsin
I. mvor OF such servitudc were as explicit
ana severe Us wcrc those i'm support of
negro slavery. Such white persons owing
personal service TO individual masters
wero generally known as '.term slaves"
though their legal status was represented
by tho word 'rodemptioncr."
lsanc Weld, Jr., in his book of travels
m America, published in tho last CEN
tnry, asserts that it was tho custom Of
shipmastcrs at Rotterdam and the IIanso
w to invcigle tho people on to their
~vcsscfs, under promise of q FREQ passage
TO America. On reaching tho colonies
announcement of the arrival OF mechanics
ma aborers would DO made, and persons
In want U such would flock to the ships.
and the poor Germans would be sold 70
tho highest bidders, the captains pocket,
ing tho proceeds.
Rcdonptioncrs constituted in the carly
part of tho Eighteenth century q p~oculior
feature of colonial anxiety. They wcre
recruited from among all manner of rec.
plo i'll tho Old World. and through this
hanncl Europe cmpticd upon America
not only the %virtuous poor and oppressed
OF her population. but the Migrants.
fclons and the drcSs of her communities,
There was thus established among tho
HrBt settlers q society that, in many
places, was almost imbucd with n moral
pcstiienco. Among tho rcdcmptioncrs,
howovor, woro a fair proportion Of sturdy
souls, strong In purpose md cndcavor,
who appreciated tho great opportunity
created for them by this complete change
OF lifo and country. AT the expiration of
their term OF service many by thrift and
industry. elevated themselves to respect
ablo positions, and were absorbed i'm tho
middle class.
There wcrc two kinds Of rcdcmptioncrs
"indentcd ~Oorvants," who had bound
themselves to their masters for a term of
years previous to leaving the old coun-
try, and 'frco willcrs," who, being with
out money and DESTROYS OF cmigratinp.
agreed with the captains of ships to-
allow Themselves or their families to be
sold on arrival for the captains advan-
tagc, and thus repay costs Of passage md
other expenses. Tho former-ipdentcI
5ervants-wcre often trapped into their
engagements by corrupt agents mt homo,
who persuaded them all under false
promises of tondrr and humane treat.
Encnt, and assurances OF rcmuncratitr
employment nt expiration OF service.
which would insure a competent proyi.
SION for tho remainder of their DAYS.
The emigrants often discovered on arrival
hot tho advantages to DO obtained in
America had tScn painted By tho a:cnts
hn much too alluring colors. E~toqurn;fr
1ofr masters forced thon, TO most rigid
Labor, and exercised aa unneoessary
esveVfsy.
Tho FREQ wfllcrs sufVsSed even wor,o
treatment a tho hands OF shipmastets
Gnd aScnta. Ttoy wcro lid to believe
that on arrival in America thor services
o he eagerly solicited by person.
who would glsdly Fay tho cost OF their
paSSagos; which Icing only co, tho chi
grants would soon ho ailu to reIay, md
thus sccur: tl,oir liberty and NIL tho ell
joymcnt and prosperity that the new
country offered TO adventurous. Acrcc-
ments wcro entered into whereby these
de&utlNi oncs bound themselves, that if.
on arrival. they did nos Gucceod within a
certain number q days in securing EN-
Pfoymcnt on their own torms, they could
be cold for q torn * years to dcfray tho
etarSc1 for their PaEsagca. Alas, the
'freo willcrs. with rare exceptions, had
a rude awakening on reaching tho col
onicS. Under their agreements the cap
tains had n legal lien on tho persons OF
the emigranta until tho ship charges were
paid; consequently they were not allowed
10 SO on shore. but were exposed to view
on dock to tho people on came board
In search Of servants. Except III caaca
OF extraordinary qualifications, very few
OF them wero happy enough to make
their own stipulntions, and they found
themselves sold for several years of tcdi-
ous labor and scrvitudc.
Tho usual price paid in PENNSYLVANIA
for thrco years service was Gel IL. Cd.
When his time had expired q man was
entitled to receive two suits Of clothes, q
grulLinG hoe. q wedding hoo and q new
AK. Children cold for from CO to clio,
and their masters were required to SEQ
that Shey woTe taught to read and write,
and had at least IL quarters schooling.
In New Jcrcy-according to "IHam-
ing and Spiccr"-no white servant, il
sold or bound after II years Of age, could
serve above four years II under that
age, they wcro to Ike free on reaching
their majority. AZ tho expiration Of SER
vtco their masters were obliged to supply
tncIl Will t"o EOcu buitb Ol ClOtnlily,
suitable for u servant, ono good falling
ax. ono good hoo and seven bushels 81
Indian corn. A servant was to DO immc-
diately freed In caHo OF being 70 abused
by muster or mistress as to result in tho
loss OF an oyo or q tooth. Tho laws against
aiding redemptionists to escape were very
severe. A fine OF G5 was imposed for
Offering assistance In such cases, and tho
alder and nbcttor was obliged to make
full satisfaction 10 master or mistress for
all loss, damage or cost sustained by tho
absence OF or search for tho runaway.
Any ono who concealed or entertained m
~abaconding r~odeniptioncr could DO fined
Mt tho discretion Of tho court, and te
made to pay ten shillings to the Ownor
for each day hc had harbored the servant.
In looking back on tho pcculiarities,
chhngcs, and Grada,ions of society in
Now jerseys colonial days, it 10 curious
to note how tho vol to do cmigrants
who brought with them OF purchased
nft,r ors.vaI ralnp,ntt,,, r,.n,t nft,,x